competitor

competitor — noun

1. a person, group, or team that tries to win a competition or achieve a goal that

1.nounB1
Definition

a person, group, or team that tries to win a competition or achieve a goal that others are also trying for.

Example

Tomás was the youngest competitor in the school chess tournament.

competitor in [contest] — names the event

All competitors must sign in at the front desk before the race begins.

Common collocations
  • strong competitor
  • fellow competitor
  • main competitor
  • competitor in [event]
Synonyms
  • contestant

    only for a person in a specific contest, not for teams or companies

  • rival

    implies an ongoing or personal competitive relationship, often more intense than competitor

  • opponent

    focuses on the person or side you directly face in a match or debate

Antonyms
  • teammate

    someone on the same side as you in a team competition

Grammar Patterns

competitor in [contest/race/event]

Usage Note

Competitor is a countable noun. It can refer to a single person ('Diego is a strong competitor'), a group or team ('our competitors in the relay'), or an entire company. The related noun 'competition' refers to the event or activity, not the participants.

Common Mistakes

There were many competitions in the marathon.
There were many competitors in the marathon.
'Competition' means the event; 'competitor' means the person taking part.

2. a person, company, or product that competes for customers within a shared indust

2.nounB2
Definition

a person, company, or product that competes for customers within a shared industry, often by offering goods or services similar to those of another.

Example

The new tablet costs far less than those of its main competitors.

main competitor — strongest rival in a market

Rohan's bakery grew fast and became a serious competitor to older shops in town.

competitor to [something] — grammar pattern

Common collocations
  • main competitor
  • biggest competitor
  • direct competitor
  • business competitor
  • market competitor
  • competitor to [company]
Synonyms
  • rival

    often suggests a stronger, more direct or historic competition between two businesses

  • challenger

    a company trying to catch up with or overtake the current market leader

  • opposition

    used collectively for all the businesses competing in a particular area

Antonyms
  • partner

    a business that works together with you rather than against you

  • collaborator

    a person or company you cooperate with on shared projects

Grammar Patterns

competitor to [organization]

competitor for [resource/market]

Usage Note

In business contexts, 'competitor' can refer to entire companies ('our main competitor in Asia'), individual products ('this car model has many competitors'), or the people running a rival business. Common with prepositions 'to' and 'for': 'a competitor to the market leader', 'competitors for the same customers.'

Common Mistakes

We need to study our competitions.
We need to study our competitors.
Use 'competitor' for the companies you are competing against, not 'competition.'
They are competitor with us.
They are competitors of ours.' or 'They are our competitors.
The correct structure is 'competitor of [someone]' or 'competitor to [someone].'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Competitor is the broadest term and works in sports, business, and everyday life for anyone or anything in a competition. Rival suggests a longer-term, more personal, or emotionally charged relationship — two rival football clubs or rival tech companies. Contestant is narrower: it only refers to a person who officially enters a specific contest or game show, not a team or company. Opponent focuses on the person or side you are directly matched against in a single event or debate. Challenger is someone actively trying to take the top position from the current leader. For example, in a tennis tournament a player might say: 'My toughest opponent in the first round was the defending champion, but my main rival all season has been the number two seed.'

rival ↗contestant ↗opponent ↗challenger ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • keep an eye on competitors
  • stay ahead of competitors
  • competitors in the market

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Competitor comes from the Latin word 'competitor' meaning 'a rival or candidate'. This was formed from 'competere' — 'to strive together' — with 'com-' meaning 'together' and 'petere' meaning 'to seek or aim for'. The word entered English through French in the early 1500s, originally used for people seeking the same political office, and later broadened to any contest or market rivalry.